Sitting in front of the television set, flipping through the channels, chances are, you will find at least one show on, that involves some sort of spirit communications. With so many shows dedicated to “paranormal investigations”, or Psychic phenomena, one could easily understand why Spirit Communications is accepted by society, and why most people see no harm in it.

And while it is heavily pushed by the media, the church remains quiet. No one is speaking about it in the church. The statistics of how many Christians that sit in churches every week, but yet believe in earthbound spirits, would most likely be somewhat of a shocking number… considering what the Bible actually says about it.

All spirit communication techniques are against Gods Word. All spirit communication involves contact with demonic spirits.

I often shake my head when I hear ghost hunters warn against the use of ouija boards. What they do not understand is, that ALL forms of spirit communications are an abomination to God according to the Bible. Using an ouija board is no different than using dowsing rods, a pendulum, tarot cards, ghost meters, trigger objects, or even a simple voice recorder. Realistically, they all do the same thing. They are all used with the intentions to communicate with the “dead”.

There are different reasons why people attempt to communicate with the dead. Probably the most common reason would be because of the grief one feels after losing thier loved ones, and thier desire to have contact with them. Wanting so badly to feel that they are still here with them.

Another reason would be, our natural fear of death; and curiosity of what is in store for us in the hereafter.

Unresolved issues is also a reason people attempt to communicate with the dead. These issues could range from unanswered questions from our deceased loved ones, or it could be things such as unresolved crime related issues. An example could be police officers that contact psychics in an attempt to gain information related to crimes committed, surrounding the death of an individual.

Another reason would be an unhealthy attraction to darkness. for There can be a thrill in becoming fearful in certain situations.

An example of this could be when someone wants to watch a scary movie, and they find themselves, under covers with one eye peeking around the sheet that is in thier clinched fist, daring to watch the whole movie, but when the scene gets too scary, they pull the sheet over both their eyes, but only to pull the sheet back away again, only seconds later, attempting to watch it again.

There is a thrilling factor to it. But that “scary feeling” we get when we do these things is our natural feelings and conscience, that tells us, it’s not good, and that it is rather evil.

Ghost hunting can have an euphoria effect. There is something about sitting in a dark room, with all the “up to date” ghost hunting gadgets, daring to do what others are too afraid of doing. Feeling somewhat like a “Spiritual daredevil”. Challenging one’s fearful side.

Sometimes we come across “ghost hunters” that become provocative when communicating with these spirits. They will try to “challenge” these spirits. This is exceptionally dangerous. Why is this dangerous one might ask? Because spirits have not flesh and blood as we have. We cannot fight a spiritual battle using physical weapons. These spirits are only subject to Jesus. They can only do what God allows them to do. (Job 1:9-12)

The only time a human has authority over demonic spirits, is when they are born again, believers in Jesus Christ, that are in obedience to Gods Word.

*Mark 16:17, Jesus gives specific instructions to all believers, telling them that all those who believe in The name of Jesus, will have the authority to cast out devils…
Jesus only gives this “authority” to cast out demons, to believers. Unbelievers do not have that right.

For example;

*Acts 19:13-16 the vagabond Jews, exorcists took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus saying we Adjure you by Jesus, who Paul preacheth. And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said Jesus I know and Paul I know but who are you? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

As I stated above, “The only time a human has authority over demonic spirits, is when they are born again, believers in Jesus Christ, that are in obedience to Gods Word.”

The reason I mentioned “ in obedience to Gods Word”, is because, even if we claim to believe in Jesus, if we dabble in the occult, by doing things that God forbids us to do, we are in danger. In doing these things, in a sense, we are leaving God’s umbrella of protection.

If the enemy merely showed himself as the evil being that he really is, people would do whatever it took to avoid him. But the fact is, he is very deceptive and he will use whatever tactic that best suits you, to destroy you. He “sifts us as wheat”. The enemy comes but to steal, kill, and destroy.

God forbids necromancy, and divination in His holy Word. Some often wonder, “ why is it wrong to talk to my deceased loved one, I’m not hurting anything by doing this”? But the truth is, all of Gods “laws/commandments” are in place for our own protection. It’s not because he wants to withhold anything “good” from us, but instead, to protect us from something bad.

God tells us in His Word, that when we die, we immediately go to either heaven, or hell. And the Bible says that once someone in in heaven or hell, that there is a “great gulf”, fixed in place, that makes it impossible for those that are in either place, to return to earth, even if it is to go warn (or talk to) the living. (Luke 16:19-31)

So, if these spirits are not the departed spirits of our deceased loved ones, who, or what are they? The Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 11:14, that we should take no marvel, for “Satan himself is transformed as an angel of light”

Demonic spirits will mimic the dead. These are called “Familiar Spirits”. Familiar spirits are familiar with the person they mimic, as they have followed that family down through the generations, which is the reason why they know so much about the deceased person and their family.

And the Bible tells us, that they will deceive and defile us. (Lev.19-31, Deut.18:10, 2Chronicles 33:6, Lev.20:6, Isa.19:3, Isa.8:19)
In Isaiah, it says:
Isaiah 8:19, And when they Say unto you seek not them that have familiar spirits and onto wizards a peep and that mutter: should not a people seek onto their God? For the living to the dead?

God wants us to seek him regarding the dead. He gives us all truth in His word. On the other hand, the familiar spirits lie, and will tell us things that are not true. Things that directly conflict with Gods Word. The belief in earthbound spirits alone, is an attack on God’s Word and His truth. This belief is contrary to what the Bible tells us, one example would be, that when unsaved people die, they do not go to hell.
(It takes away the fear of hell)

It gives a false sense of hope to unbelievers, while it takes away the true hope given to the believers.

This is the reason God forbids necromancy, and divination. Satan is here to try to deceive us, and he will masquerade as our deceased loved ones. You see, he always mimics something “good”. Something that will appeal to us. He wants to gain our trust.

When you have a person that is suffering from the grief of losing someone dear to them, the enemy will take advantage of the opportunity, and try to deceive them. This is why in most cases, people will “experience” paranormal activity right after someone they know dies. People want so badly to be able to hold onto their loved ones while it is very difficult for them to accept the fact that they are no longer here. This is a very cruel tactic of the enemy.

Weighing the Evidence:

It’s very interesting to know how many “ghost hunters”, “psychics”, etc., truly rely on their own senses, and trust what these spirits “tell them”. When coming to a conclusion in “paranormal cases”, the evidence that is always presented as “proof” of ghosts (earthbound spirits of our departed loved ones) include things such as:

*EVP recordings (having to trust in what the spirits tell them)
*Photographs of paranormal anomalies (familiar spirits can “appear” as ghost)
*Temperature readings of the area during the investigation.
*EMF readings (again, this can be manipulated by demonic spirits)
*Video footage of paranormal activity.
*Information given through a medium or psychic. (Demonic spirits are known to do this, as even many in the paranormal/psychic community agree that these occurrences do happen at times, but they deny the possibility that this is perhaps always the case.)

All of the types of evidence above, are determined by using our natural senses.

But where the deception comes in is this… when we determine the presence of a “spirit”, we do not have the “natural” ability to distinguish whether the spirit is that of a deceased loved one, or if the spirit is truly demonic. And we cannot go by our own “feelings” either, as the Bible tells us:

Proverbs 14:12 KJV
[12] There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Jeremiah 17:9 KJV
[9] The heart is deceitful above all things , and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Proverbs 3:5 KJV
[5] Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Therefore, we must seek God’s word, and what he says. His word tells us,

2 Corinthians 5:8 KJV
[8] We are confident, I say , and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

It also says, Hebrews 9:27 KJV
[27] And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Luke 16:22-31 KJV
[22] And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; [23] And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. [24] And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. [25] But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. [26] And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. [27] Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: [28] For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. [29] Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. [30] And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. [31] And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

The scripture above, from Luke 16, is very clear. It tells us that immediately, when we die, we are either carried by angels to heaven, or we will lift up our eyes being in everlasting torment. It also tells us that there is a great gulf “fixed” in place, so that anyone in heaven or hell cannot leave.

And most importantly, this scripture tells us that God will not allow one to come back from the dead, even if it is to warn others. And if God were to have any exceptions to this rule, it would definitely be for the gospels sake, as there is not a more important message than the gospel.

Testing The Spirits:

Humans are limited, having to depend on our natural senses. We have a “flawed” nature. Naturally, we determine truth by our “experiences”, through our 5 senses. Some people believe in a 6th sense, but this “sense”, is something that cannot be explained naturally. This phenomenon is supernatural, and actually comes from the spiritual realm.

But we must take caution, as there is no true way to determine scientifically/naturally, if it comes from God, or if it comes from the demonic realm. God gives “believers” different gifts. But these gifts are from the Holy Spirit. One of those gifts are “discerning of spirits”. But the “test” that the individual would do, would be to test the situation or the information given, by the Word of God. Does the information given line up with scripture.

Many people believe that “discerning of spirits”is the distiquishment of whether a spirit is a trapped “human” spirit, or a demonic spirit. But this idea is not biblical as it is not found in scripture! Rather, it is used to distinguish between teachers who are empowered by Holy Spirit or teachers empowered by unholy spirits/demons… spirit of antichrist.

For example, if a spirit appeared to someone, and claimed to be the spirit of a small child, immediately, the person would know this isn’t possible, because the Bible clearly tells us that spirits cannot leave heaven or hell for unresolved issues. So the person would know that this is a familiar spirit.

1 John 4:1-6 KJV
[1] Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. [2] Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: [3] And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. [4] Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. [5] They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. [6] We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

If for any reason, you believe the spirits of our departed loved ones are indeed still here with us, please do this one thing. “Test the spirits”, to see if they are of God or not. We need to compare the situation and what is being said, with scripture! And if for some reason, you have an “encounter” with a spirit, you can ask the spirit, “Do you believe that Jesus Christ came in the flesh, and that He died on the cross and rose again from the dead? And see what the spirit tells you. And then, command any, and all evil spirits to leave in the name of Jesus!

If you do these things, be rest assured, you will find out the true identity of these demonic spirits, that are masquerading as our deceased loved ones.

When people test these spirits this way, the reactions of these spirits and thier submission to the name of Jesus is usually all it takes, as this is proof of the authority and power of Jesus Christ, and the true identity of these demonic spirits!